Senator Christopher “Bong” Go is urging the government to prioritize the implementation of an investment plan complementing the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2) to ensure equitable distribution of wealth, and accelerate socio-economic development in the countryside.
This approach, Go said, would help communities recover from the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide more economic opportunities to those who wish to start a new life in the provinces.
Go said attracting investments in other parts of the country outside Metro areas and focusing on regional development would provide more employment and livelihood opportunities in the countryside, consistent with the long-term goals of the BP2 Program that is set to be fully implemented after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.
“It is the goal of this program to provide new hope for the Filipinos that they can look forward to for a better future after the crisis. They will be assisted if they wish to go back to their respective provinces,” he assured.
According to Go, an investment plan crafted toward regional development would aid in modernizing the Philippine economy, generating higher levels of decent jobs around the country, and helping solve societal issues on employment, housing, transportation, and safe and secure travel, among others.
Go hopes for the investment plan to contain a list of specific activities or categories of economic activity that can qualify for incentives under Executive Order (EO) 226 (s. 1987) or the “Omnibus Investments Code of 1987,” such as income tax holidays.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, Go said the government my consider initially covering investments in the production of essential goods or provision of services critically needed in responding to the pandemic, as well as those that would mitigate its impacts.
Go, the proponent of the BP2 Program, noted that the lack of economic opportunities and good-paying jobs are reasons countryside residents go to Metro Manila.
“The reason many of those from the provinces go to Metro Manila is to have better and decent jobs,” he said.
“However, many of them were frustrated because their lives have not changed. Once we are assured that better jobs are already available in the provinces, there is no more need for them to go to Metro Manila. This is the reason the participation of all agencies of government and the private sector is important in this undertaking,” he added.
Go also mentioned that government synergy would be a key factor in helping Filipinos recover from the crisis.
He said that the success of BP2 Program would also depend on the widespread and active participation of key government agencies in boosting economic opportunities in the provinces.
The BP2 program is a long-term plan of the government to decongest Metro Manila and boost countryside development.
On May 6, President Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) 114 which created the BP2 Council and institutionalized the program. The EO came about after Go authored Senate Resolution (SR) 380 which the Senate adopted on May 4.
The BP2 program has four key results areas to ensure inclusive and balanced urban and rural development, and the creation of resilient and sustainable communities: (1) the empowerment of local industries; (2) food security and agricultural productivity; (3) housing, social welfare, health, employment and human resource development; and (4) infrastructure development.
At the height of more stringent COVID-19 quarantine measures, the BP2 program’s initial rollouts were suspended to give way to President Duterte’s directive to prioritize the Hatid Tulong initiative, a transportation assistance program which helps locally stranded individuals (LSIs) return to their provinces.
“Despite temporarily suspending the subsequent rollouts, the preparations being conducted by concerned government agencies for the eventual implementation of the BP2 program remains in full swing,” Go previously said.
“That is why coordination, cooperation, and collaboration between the national agencies and concerned local government units are crucial to ensure that the respective provinces are ready to accept BP2 beneficiaries, take care of their needs, provide economic opportunities, and ensure their safety and the safety of the rest of the communities in their area,” he added.